# Instrument Connect vs Lab.Hacks

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lab.Hacks at 96% against Instrument Connect's 25%. Lab.Hacks also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.1) and ratings volume (136 vs 10). Instrument Connect's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lab.Hacks sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Instrument Connect asks for nothing beyond the download.

Lab.Hacks holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lab.Hacks has 136 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Instrument Connect's written reviews are positive against 96% of Lab.Hacks's.

Instrument Connect ships an update every 3 months, Lab.Hacks every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and August 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instrument Connect | Lab.Hacks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.1 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instrument-connect/id1042301575/reviews) | **[4.9 (136 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labhacks/id1462593060/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **136** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **96.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 72 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thermo Fisher Scientific](https://appshunter.io/developer/407517076) | [Lab.hacks GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1746977613) |

## What reviewers say

### Instrument Connect

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instrument-connect/id1042301575)

Monitor your cloud-enabled laboratory instruments remotely in real-time. Track run progress, view amplification plots, and ensure peace of mind by catching issues as they happen.

**Highlights:** Real-time instrument availability check, Monitor PCR run progress, View real-time amplification plots, Filter plots by sample or target, Remote access to cloud-enabled devices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Lab.Hacks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/labhacks/id1462593060)

This app serves as a laboratory assistant, offering a collection of essential tools, calculators, and guides for students, researchers, and technicians. It simplifies everyday lab tasks with features like dilution calculators, timers, and protocols, all accessible offline.

**Highlights:** Dilution, molarity, and unit conversion calculators, Smart lab timers, Quick reference tables, Step-by-step protocols and guides, Offline access, Minimalist design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lab.hacks Ad-free monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Lab.hacks Ad-free annual | $28.99 | per year |
| Donate 1$ | $0.99 | one-time |
| Donate 5$ | $3.99 | one-time |
| Donate 10$ | $8.99 | one-time |
| Donate 20$ | $17.99 | one-time |
| Donate 50$ | $44.99 | one-time |
| Donate 100$ | $89.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instrument Connect free?

Instrument Connect is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Lab.Hacks free?

Lab.Hacks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Instrument Connect or Lab.Hacks?

Lab.Hacks is rated higher. Instrument Connect averages 3.1 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Lab.Hacks averages 4.9 from 136 ratings.

### Do Instrument Connect or Lab.Hacks have ads?

Lab.Hacks shows ads; Instrument Connect does not.

### Which is updated more often, Instrument Connect or Lab.Hacks?

Instrument Connect ships an update every 3 months, and Lab.Hacks every 2 months. Most recently, Instrument Connect was updated on September 21, 2026 and Lab.Hacks on August 31, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*